ROCK bottom Reading CC slipped to another heavy defeat as they went down by eight wickets at Boyne Hill in their Thames Valley League Division One clash on Saturday, writes Richard Ashton.

The visitors chose to bat, but made a disastrous start as Sunny Jheeta, skipper Sukhi Kang, Curran Gaur and Pav Chima were all dismissed for single figures to leave them 29-4.

Firaz Amjad and Ian Slatcher helped steady the ship with a fine fifth-wicket stand of 83 which was ended when the latter was caught by Sajid Ali off Mudassar Hussain for 39.

Another flurry of wickets followed as Ziya Mohamed (4-34) left Reading 136-9, but some spirited batting from Amjad (98) powered the away side to 171 until he was the last man out, caught by Will Neal off the bowling of Naveed Zaigham.

In reply, Neal fell for 22 when he was caught behind by Kang off Slatcher to make it 38-1, but Sajid Ali and Ollie Clayson kept their team on top.

Ali was trapped lbw by Amjad for 62 with the score on 120, but Clayson (37no) and Hamid Riaz (36no) ensured there were no more alarms for Boyne Hill, who reached their target from 31.2 overs.

Reading are now 27 points adrift of safety and face a tough home game against second-placed Cove this coming Saturday.

In Division 4a, Reading 2nds suffered an agonising one-wicket reverse at home to Boyne Hill 2nds.

There were useful contributions throughout the Reading innings as Rahul Bharti (45), Mitun Patel (36), Shiva Aruna (34) and Michael Griesel (32) all batting well as they were bowled out for 223 in 50.5 overs.

It proved just not enough, however, as the visitors reached 225-9 in 46 overs, Amandeep Singh (3-19) and Shreyas Narayanasamy (3-92) doing the bulk of the damage with the ball.

Reading 3rds recovered from a bad start to dominate their Division 6b draw at home to Burnham 4ths.

In a battle of the bottom two, Reading collapsed to 39-3, but fine innings from skipper Graham Cassie (67), Chris Reynard (59no), Rob Cassie (54) and Jack Ridler (48) helped them recover to declare on 282-7 in 50 overs.

Ollie Waterhouse then took 5-51 in the reply, but Burnham survived on 217-8.

Reading 4ths were beaten by 52 runs at Kidmore End 3rds in Division 9a.

Todd Butler top scored with 87 as the End totalled 240-8, Manav Mahesh taking 3-46 for Reading, who were then bowled out for 188 with Ankur Raina grabbing 3-36.